What leadership looks like

Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Owen Lynch:

What did I like about today’s passage?

It’s easy to think that Paul was a one-man band but, in reality, Paul was one of a number of travelling evangelists and church planters and worked with a team of church leaders, one of whom was called Timothy. Timothy’s family lived in Lystra in Southern Turkey and they accepted Jesus as the Jewish Messiah when Paul came to town. You can read about this in Acts 14.

Lystra didn’t hold good memories for Paul, because a crowd stoned him to within an inch of his life! Just think about that for a moment - just imagine the injuries that Paul would have sustained - bruises, broken bones, severe concussion, perhaps a fractured skull, broken nose and cheek bones. Some scholars think he may have actually died and been resurrected - whatever happened it was hugely traumatic.

For twenty years Paul faced repeated sectarian violence from Jews who rejected his claim that Jesus was the Messiah promised throughout the history of Israel. Many of his letters contain firm rebuttals of the arguments that Jesus isn’t the Messiah.

Paul’s first letter to Timothy starts with another of these rebuttals urging Timothy to oppose these Jews who are teaching that Jesus isn’t the Messiah. Paul uses really strong language and urges Timothy to use strong discipline.

See, here’s the thing - the Jews who Paul is in conflict with are the same group that Paul himself was part of. Paul can completely identify with them. He understands their anger and violence, he understands their passionate conviction. He says of himself in 1 Timothy 1:12-13: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.

In the next verse, he calls himself the “worst of sinners”. Paul was once the same violent persecutor of Jews who claimed Jesus was the Messiah. His emotional testimony ends with an extravagant cry of thanksgiving: Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

It shows me that an encounter with Jesus is life changing. It shows me that no-one is beyond redemption.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

It gives me faith that nothing or no one is beyond redemption, it will change the way I pray for redemption wherever I encounter brokenness in my own life and in my city.

Who am I going to share this with?

My friends and colleagues.